Heredia-Griego Named Interim Director of El Centro de la Raza

Vice President for Student Affairs Eliseo "Cheo" Torres announced the appointment of Meriah E. Heredia-Griego as interim director of El Centro de la Raza. Heredia-Griego replaces Veronica Mendez Cruz who retired as El Centro's director after 27 years of service.

Heredia-Griego serves as interim director effective immediately while a national search for a permanent director is conducted. Heredia-Griego has been with UNM for 17 years, nine as a professional staff member. She currently serves as a research assistant professor at the Center for Education Policy Research and the Division of Equity and Inclusion at UNM.

She has more than ten years of experience in working on college readiness, access, persistence and graduation issues with students, families, leaders and policymakers. Her current faculty appointment is in Teacher Education, Educational Leadership and Policy in the College of Education where she teaches courses focused on developing emerging educational leaders . In 2013, she earned a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration and Policy from Colorado State University.